There was a dramatic development in the Julian Assange case last night as Ecuador accused the British government of threatening to storm their London embassy. Eduador’s foreign minister revealed the astonishing ultimatum:

“Today we received from the United Kingdom a written threat that they could attack our embassy in London if Ecuador does not give up Julian Assange. Ecuador, as a state that respects rights and justice and is a democratic and peaceful nation state, rejects in the strongest possible terms the explicit threat of the British official communication. This is unbecoming of a democratic, civilised and law-abiding state. If this conduct persists, Ecuador will take appropriate responses in accordance with international law. If the measures announced in the British official communication materialise they will be interpreted by Ecuador as a hostile and intolerable act and also as an attack on our sovereignty, which would require us to respond with greater diplomatic force.”

The Ecuadorian president is expected to the make decision on whether to hand over Assange at around lunchtime today. Watch this space…